Covering for flower pot and floral grouping

ABSTRACT

A cover for use with a flower pot having a floral grouping disposed therein. The cover includes a sheet of material having a sheet extension connected to an outer peripheral surface thereof. The sheet of material is formed into a pot cover for covering the flower pot and the sheet extension extends over the floral grouping.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/933,384, filedAug. 20, 2001; now U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,662, which is a continuation ofU.S. Ser. No. 09/767,518, filed Jan. 23, 2001, now abandoned; which is acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/353,850, filed Jul. 15, 1999, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,192,625; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/971,206,filed Nov. 14, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,898; which is acontinuation of 08/526,335 filed Sep. 11, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No.5,699,648; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/183,010, filedJan. 14, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,758; which is a continuation ofU.S. Ser. No. 08/001,001, filed Jan. 6, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No.5,307,606; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/865,563,filed May 21, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,814.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to coverings for flower potsand, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a covering fora flower pot having a sheet extension for extending about a floralgrouping disposed in the flower pot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sheet of material with a sheet extensionconnected thereto constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a flower pot having a floral groupingdisposed therein.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sheet of material formed into a potcover with the sheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the flower pot of FIG. 2 disposedin the pot cover of FIG. 3 with the sheet extension formed about thefloral grouping.

FIG. 5 is plan view of a modified sheet of material with a modifiedsheet extension connected thereto.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the sheet of material of FIG. 5 formedinto a pot cover and having the flower pot of FIG. 2 disposed in the potcover with the sheet extension formed about the floral grouping.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, as shown therein and designated by the generalreference numeral 10 is a sheet of material constructed in accordancewith the present invention. The sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1 hasan upper surface 12, a lower surface 14 (FIG. 3), a first end 16, asecond end 18, a first side 20 and a second side 22. The ends 16 and 18cooperate with the sides 20 and 22 to define an outer perimeter 24 ofthe sheet of material 10. The outer perimeter 24 of the sheet ofmaterial 10 is defined by perforations 26, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a sheet extension 28 is connected to theouter perimeter 24 of the sheet of material 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and3, the sheet extension 28 extends a distance outwardly from the outerperimeter 24 of the sheet of material 10. The sheet extension 28 has afirst end 30, a second end 32, a first side 34 and a second side 36. Aportion of the sheet extension 28 extends a distance outwardly from thefirst end 16 of the sheet of material 10 terminating with the first end30 of the sheet extension 28. Another portion of the sheet extension 28extends a distance outwardly from the second end 18 of the sheet ofmaterial 10 terminating with the second end 32 of the sheet extension28. Yet another portion of the sheet extension 28 extends a distanceoutwardly from the first side 20 of the sheet of material 10 terminatingwith the first side 34 of the sheet extension 28. Still another portionof the sheet extension 28 extends a distance outwardly from the secondside 22 of the sheet of material 10 terminating with the second side 36of the sheet extension 28.

The sheet extension 28 cooperates with the sheet of material 10 todefine a generally square or rectangularly shaped sheet of material withthe perforations 26 being disposed in a central portion of the sheet ofmaterial and defining the outer perimeter 24 of the sheet of material10. Preferably, the sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 areunitary and formed from a single sheet or plies or multiple sheets oneon top of the other which may or may not be laminated.

The sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 are constructed fromany suitable flexible material that is capable of being wrapped about afloral grouping and formed into a covering, as described herein.Preferably, the sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 areconstructed of a material selected from a group of materials consistingof paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic), including denim, andburlap or polymeric film or combinations thereof.

The term “polymeric film” as used herein means a synthetic or a naturalpolymeric film. For example, but not by way of limitation, one polymericfilm is a polypropylene film. Another example of a polymeric film, butnot by way of limitation, is cellophane.

The sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 have a thickness ina range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Preferably, the sheet ofmaterial 10 and the sheet extension 28 have a thickness in a range fromabout 0.1 mil to about 5 mils.

The sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 may be any shape anda rectangular shape is shown in FIG. 1 only by way of example. The sheetof material 10 and the sheet extension 28 for example only may besquare, rectangular, circular or any other geometric shape such as heartshaped for example only.

The sheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 may be constructedof a single layer of material or a plurality of layers of the same ordifferent types of materials. Any thickness of the sheet of material 10and the sheet extension 28 may be utilized in accordance with thepresent invention as long as the sheet of material 10 and the sheetextension 28 are wrappable about a floral grouping and formable into acovering, as described herein. The layers of material comprising thesheet of material 10 and the sheet extension 28 may be connectedtogether or laminated or may be separate layers.

The covering of the present invention is particularly constructed to beused with a pot 38 (FIG. 2). The pot 38 has a top 40, a bottom 42 withan opening through the top 40 forming a receiving space 44 within thepot 38. The pot 38 also has an outer peripheral surface 46. As shown inFIG. 2, the pot 38 is generally cylindrically shaped. However, the pot38 may be any shape as may be desired in a particular application.

A floral grouping 48 is disposed at least partially within the receivingspace 44 of the pot 38, as shown in FIG. 2. The floral grouping 48 has astem end 50 and a bloom end 52. In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 2,material such as soil 54 is disposed in the receiving space 44 and aportion of the stem end 50 extends into the soil 54. The floral grouping48 extends a distance upwardly from the top 40 of the pot 38 terminatingwith the bloom end 52.

“Floral grouping” as used herein means cut fresh flowers, artificialflowers, a single flower, other fresh and/or artificial plants or otherfloral materials and may include other secondary plants and/orornamentation which add to the aesthetics of the overall floralgrouping.

A decorative pattern, such as a color and/or an embossed pattern, and/orother decorative surface ornamentation may be applied to the uppersurface 12 and/or the lower surface 14 of the sheet of material 10 orportions thereof including, but not limited to printed design, coatings,colors, flocking or metallic finishes. The sheet of material 10 also maybe totally or partially clear or tinted transparent material. The sheetextension 28 is transparent, although a decorative pattern also may beapplied to the sheet extension 28.

The sheet of material 10 with the sheet extension 28 connected theretois placed between a male and a female die or other forming system (notshown) and formed into a pot cover 56 (FIGS. 3 and 4). As shown in FIGS.3 and 4, the pot cover 56 has a top 58, a closed bottom 60 and a coveropening 62 (FIG. 3) formed through the top 58 and extending through thetop 58 a distance toward the bottom 60 of the pot cover 56 providing apot receiving space 64 (FIG. 3). The pot receiving space 64 is shapedand adapted to receive the pot 38. The pot cover 56 has a lower portion65 and an upper sleeve portion 71 (FIG. 4).

The pot cover 56 has a plurality of overlapping folds 66 with each ofthe overlapping folds 66 extending at various distances and at variousangles over an outer peripheral surface 68 of the pot cover 56 extendingbetween the top 58 and the bottom 60. The overlapping folds 66 extend atvarious angles and over various distance over the outer peripheralsurface 68.

The lower portion 65 of the pot cover 56 includes a base portion 67 anda skirt portion 70. The base portion 67 has an upper end 69 and isdimensioned to encompass at least a portion of the outer peripheralsurface 46 of the pot 38 when the pot 38 is disposed in the potreceiving space 64 of the pot cover 56 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The skirtportion 70 extends from the upper end 69 of the base portion 67 radiallyoutwardly with an outer perimeter 76 of the skirt portion 70 beingformed by the outer perimeter 24 of the sheet of material 10. Theperforations 26 extend along the outer perimeter 76 of the skirt portion70 formed by the outer perimeter 24 of the sheet of material 10.

The overlapping folds 66 may be connected or at least partiallyconnected. The connection of the overlapping folds 66 may beaccomplished by using heat sealing material and heat sealing theoverlapping folds 66 or by adhesively or cohesively connecting theoverlapping folds 66.

A pot cover constructed in the manner just described with respect to thepot cover 56 and a system for forming such a pot cover is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,773,182, entitled, Article Forming System, issued toWeder, et al, Sep. 27, 1988, and the disclosure of this patentspecifically hereby is incorporated herein by reference.

The pot 38 is placed in the pot receiving space 64 and positioned in thepot cover 56 such that the bottom 42 of the pot 38 is disposed generallyadjacent the bottom 60 of the pot cover 56. The base portion 67 of thepot cover 56 substantially encompasses the entire outer peripheralsurface 46 of the pot 38 including the bottom 42. The base portion 67 ofthe pot cover 56 extends from the bottom 42 to the top 40 of the pot 38.The skirt portion 70 extends radially outwardly from the upper end 69 ofthe base portion 67.

After the pot 38 has been placed in the pot cover 56, the sheetextension 28 forms the upper sleeve portion 71 (FIG. 4) which is formedabout the floral grouping 48 to a position wherein the upper sleeveportion 71 covers and encompasses a substantial portion of the floralgrouping 48 including the bloom end 52 of the floral grouping 48.

The upper sleeve portion 71 preferably includes a bonding material 72(FIG. 1) disposed on an upper surface 73 of the upper sleeve portion 71and extending about an outer perimeter 76 of the upper sleeve portion71. After the upper sleeve portion 71 has been formed about the floralgrouping 48, the outer perimeter 76 of the upper sleeve portion 71 isbonded together to provide a closed end 74 of the upper sleeve portion71 of the pot cover 56 (FIG. 4).

The base portion 67 and the skirt portion 70 of the lower portion 65together have an outer surface area 80 which is less than an outersurface area 82 of the upper sleeve portion 71 (FIG. 4).

The term “bonding material” as used herein means an adhesive, preferablya pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive. Where the bonding materialis a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must be placed on theadjacent surface for bondingly contacting and bondingly engaging withthe cohesive material. The term “bonding material” also includesmaterials which are heat sealable and, in this instance, the adjacentportions of the material must be brought into contact and then heat mustbe applied to effect the seal. The term “bonding material” as usedherein also means a heat sealing lacquer which may be applied to thesheet of material and, in this instance, heat also must be applied toeffect the sealing. The term “bonding material” as used herein means anytype of material or thing which can be used to effect the bonding orconnecting of the two adjacent portions of the material or sheet ofmaterial to effect the connection or bonding described herein. The term“bonding material” also includes- labels, bands, ribbons, strings, tape,staples or combinations thereof.

The sheet extension 28 remains in a position extending about the floralgrouping 48 until it is desired to remove the sheet extension 28. Thesheet extension 28 is removed from the pot cover 56 by tearing along theperforations 26, thereby separating the sheet extension 28 from the potcover 56. The sheet extension 28 then is removed from the floralgrouping 48 providing a decorative cover (not shown) for the pot 38.

In addition to the perforations 26, the upper sleeve portion 71 also mayinclude perforations extending between the perforations 26 and the outerperimeter 76 of the upper sleeve portion 71 to further assist in theremoval of the upper sleeve portion 71 when it is no longer desired tokeep the upper sleeve portion 71 extending about the floral grouping 48.

Embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6

Shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is a sheet of material 10 a having a sheetextension 28 a connected thereto. The sheet of material 10 a and thesheet extension 28 a are constructed exactly like the sheet of material10 and the sheet extension 28 shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 and described indetail before, except the sheet of material 10 a is circularly shapedhaving a circularly shaped outer perimeter 24 a and the sheet extension28 a is circularly shaped having a circularly shaped outer perimeter 76a.

The sheet of material 10 a is formed into a pot cover 56 a having alower portion 65 a comprising a base portion 67 a (FIG. 6) in a mannerexactly like that described before with respect to the pot cover 56(FIGS. 3 and 4), except the lower portion 65 a of the pot cover 56 a hasa skirt portion 70 a with a circularly shaped appearance and acircularly shaped outer perimeter 76 a defined by the circularly shapedouter perimeter 24 a of the sheet of material 10 a. The sheet extension28 a forms an upper sleeve portion 71 a of the pot cover 56 a whichextends a distance outwardly from the skirt portion 70 a and also has acircularly shaped outer perimeter 76 a, as mentioned before.

The base portion 67 a and the skirt portion 70 a of the lower portion 65a together have an outer surface area 80 a which is less than an outersurface area 82 a of the upper sleeve portion 71 a (FIG. 6).

The upper sleeve portion 71 a is formed about the floral grouping 48 ina manner like that described before and secured via a bonding material72 a (not shown) to provide a closed end 74 a.

Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the variouscomponents, elements and assemblies described herein and changes may bemade in the steps or the sequence of steps of the methods describedherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A covering for a pot having a floral groupingdisposed therein, the pot having a top, a bottom, a receiving space andan outer peripheral surface, and the floral grouping having a stem endand a bloom end with the floral grouping extending a distance upwardlyfrom the top of the pot terminating with the bloom end, the coveringhaving a closed bottom, an outer surface and a pot receiving spaceshaped and adapted to receive the pot, and the covering comprising: alower portion dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the outerperipheral surface of the pot and having an outer surface area; an uppersleeve portion having an outer surface area and extending a distancefrom the lower portion; and wherein the upper sleeve portion isdetachable from the lower portion via a non-linear line of perforationsdisposed therebetween and wherein when the upper sleeve portion isdetached from the lower portion by tearing along the non-linear line ofperforations, the lower portion is left with a non-linear outerperimeter and wherein the outer surface area of the lower portion isless than the outer surface area of the upper sleeve portion.
 2. Thecovering of claim 1 wherein the upper sleeve portion further comprisesbonding material disposed on a portion thereof and when formed about thefloral grouping, portions of the upper sleeve portion can be connectedvia the bonding material to form a substantially closed end.
 3. Thecovering of claim 1 wherein the lower portion is tapered.
 4. Thecovering of claim 1 wherein the upper sleeve portion is sized tosubstantially enclose a floral grouping contained by the pot.